Chapter 1 of the 2025 football season is in the books, and Killeen ISD’s players certainly filled the pages with plenty of highlights right out of the gates.
Two teams scored at least 50 points, another two posted at least 40 and three wins out of five is a great way to start.
It’s quickly onto Week 2, of course, which features the district’s most storied rivalry. But first, the Week 1 recap.
§ The scores: Shoemaker 56, Round Rock 28; Harker Heights 52, Cedar Park 35; Chaparral 42, Kyle Lehman 16; Copperas Cove 50, Ellison 46; Cedar Park Vista Ridge 30, Killeen 14
§ Ellison sophomore quarterback Marlyn Smith averaged 32.7 yards per pass completion in his first varsity start against Copperas Cove on the way to 360 yards passing and four touchdowns. His favorite target –– though he did complete a pass to six receivers –– was senior Juan Ramirez, who hauled in six catches for 210 yards and three scores.
§ No stranger to stuffing the stat section, Harker Heights signal caller Hudson Humble picked up where he left off as a sophomore by kicking off his junior campaign with 217 yards and three TDs passing in a win over Cedar Park.
The Knights offense produced a balanced attack overall, adding 289 yards on the ground –– 176 of those on 15 carries from Jaylen Mason, who had two touchdowns. Ryan Taylor caught seven passes for 115 yards and two TDs.
§ Quarterback Bryson Coleman and running back Davian Arthur powered Chaparral’s offense toward its opening victory. Coleman threw two scores and ran for another two while Arthur had 150 yards rushing and 49 receiving –– both team highs.
§ Shoemaker’s Josiah Walker (97 yards, one TD), Willie Thomas (89 yards, two TDs) and Brandon Brown Jr. (52 yards, three TDs) combined for 238 of the Grey Wolves’ 272 yards rushing. Jamal Polite added 137 yards on four receptions.
§ Killeen High running back Sha’Drach Gordon posted 146 yards and one score on 17 carries. On the defensive side, Aaron Arias-Erazo had two sacks.
§ Among the defensive and special teams standout plays were pick-6 interception returns for Shoemaker’s Tyler Armstrong and Chaparral’s Moses Woods, and a kickoff return TD by Harker Heights' Antonio Cardenas Jr.
All Week 2 games are on Friday night this week, including the 47th edition of the Killeen vs. Ellison crosstown matchup. Also in town Friday, Shoemaker hosts Nuevo Leon out of Monterrey, Mexico, while Harker Heights heads to Manor and Chaparral ventures to Manor New Tech.
Ellison at Killeen
7 p.m. Friday, Leo Buckley Stadium
Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/y62tra4u (Killeen is home; Ellison visitor)
Hudl stream: Here
Since 2004, the four decade-plus series has been evenly matched in terms of wins and losses. The Eagles have won 11 times and the Roos 10 in the previous 21 encounters –– the last five of which were decided by nine points or less, including last season’s 58-52 barnburner won by Ellison.
This game serves as Killeen’s home opener. It’s the second straight week Ellison has played in Leo Buckley Stadium.
Nuevo Leon at Shoemaker
7:30 p.m. Friday, Joseph L. Searles III Stadium
Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/yc757a6v
Shoemaker’s defense and special teams helped the Grey Wolves jump out to a quick lead last week, and the offense took over after that by scoring 42 straight points to put the contest well out of reach.
The Nuevo Leon Tigres, who pushed the Grey Wolves to four overtimes in last season’s game, lost their opener to Temple, 42-18, a week ago.
Harker Heights at Manor
7:30 p.m. Friday, Manor Athletic Complex
Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/2fx24n8c
The Knights put up a KISD-best 506 yards of offense and notched a convincing road win last week. They hop back on the buses Friday for their second of three straight away from home to begin the year.
Manor is coming off a 49-14 setback against Austin Bowie and will face a Knights defense that had four takeaways last week, including interceptions by Malik McKnight, Ra’Qwan Sanders and Eric Young III.
Chaparral at Manor New Tech
7 p.m. Friday at New Tech H.S.
Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/593y25wn
The 42 points scored last week are tied for the third most in the Bobcats’ short four-year history. They’ll look to start a season 2-0 for the second consecutive time when they play at New Tech. It’s the first of three in a row on the road for Chaparral.
The Titans defeated Austin LASA, 47-21, last week.
Middle school scores
Sept. 2
Eighth-grade: Liberty Hill 32, Nolan 0; Patterson 30, Eastern Hills 0; Rancier 25, Union Grove 16; Smith 28, Waco Carver 0; Manor 19, Live Oak Ridge 0; JDA 32, Palo Alto 7; Waco Tennyson 22, Audie Murphy 6
Seventh-grade: Nolan 20, Liberty Hill 0; Patterson 34, Eastern Hills 6; Rancier 19, Union Grove 7; Smith 40, Waco Carver 0; Live Oak Ridge 48, Manor 14; JDA 19, Palo Alto 14; Waco Tennyson 36, Audie Murphy 6